Orange juice is good for the healthy heart

In the experiment, adults drank half a liter of pure orange juice every day for two months. After 60 days, it became noticeable that the activity of the genes that increase inflammation and blood pressure decreased. This indicates that the body has begun to work more calmly: less stress, fewer inflammatory signals, and a milder vascular response. Such changes are well consistent with previous data, where juice also helped to reduce blood pressure.

The main active ingredient is hesperidin, a natural substance from citrus fruits that has an anti—inflammatory effect and helps the body better cope with sugar and cholesterol. At the same time, people with different weights had different reactions: those who were overweight had more changes in the work of genes related to fat metabolism, while those who were slimmer had inflammation genes.

Large research reviews also confirm the benefits. Hundreds of people participated in them, and on average, a daily glass of juice helped reduce insulin resistance and cholesterol levels. Individual studies have shown a slight decrease in blood pressure and an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol — even if the changes were modest, they may be significant in the long run.

Additional data came from studies that analyzed how the body processes juice at the micromolecular level. They have shown that juice improves energy metabolism, reduces inflammation, and even affects the intestinal microflora. For example, people who drank blood orange for a month had an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria, and their sugar and inflammation levels decreased.

Orange juice brought particularly noticeable benefits to people with metabolic syndrome — they improved the functioning of the vascular wall, which is responsible for the ability of blood vessels to relax. This is an important indicator that is directly related to the risk of heart attack.

Although the results of different studies differ in places, the overall picture remains stable. Despite the fact that whole fruits are always healthier because of fiber, a moderate daily amount of natural juice can gradually improve markers of inflammation, vascular function, and some blood parameters that affect heart health. This is a good example of how familiar foods can gently but noticeably support the body in the long run.